Chapter 481 The Person Behind It Has Been Found Out
Lori clapped her hands, and her assistant brought over a fancy lunch.
"Hey, lunch is on me, everyone. I know it's kinda last-minute, but it's the best I could do. When my boyfriend swings by, I'll have him treat everyone to something better."
Phoenix scoffed.
"Which boyfriend are you talking about?"
Everyone in the industry knew Lori had cozy relationships with every director she worked with. Besides that, she had her eyes on Nathaniel and had even claimed she would be his wife someday.
If she were fantasizing about someone else, Phoenix wouldn't care. He had grown up around Nathaniel and knew his tastes well. Nathaniel would never go for someone like Lori.
"Phoenix, what's with your attitude? I was worried everyone would go hungry because of you, so I brought this lunch out of kindness. What do you mean by that?"
Phoenix was used to being carefree and rarely cared about anything. There were even fewer people who could catch his attention.
He wouldn't tolerate anyone putting on airs in front of him. If he were unhappy, he would confront them directly, regardless of their gender.
"What do I mean? I want to know what you mean. You've been meticulously studying my Instagram and even Ms. Semona's. What was the point of that post?
Do you think doing that will make Nathaniel notice you more? I suggest you focus on acting. Maybe if you land a few good roles, you'll get rich. Don't count on clinging to wealthy people. With your attitude, you'll never make it into high society."
Lori's lips trembled with anger, her face turning pale.
She had heard about Phoenix's personality but had never experienced his sharp tongue firsthand. She never expected Phoenix to speak so bluntly, exposing her intentions in front of the entire crew without leaving her any dignity.
"You... you!"
Lori pointed a finger at Phoenix, too flustered to speak.
Phoenix pushed her hand away.
"Don't point at people like that. What about me? You think I don't know who you are just because you didn't use your real name? You crashed my grandmother's birthday party and caused trouble for my guests. I haven't even settled that score with you. And now you're sneaking around taking photos? Maybe you should switch careers and become a journalist."
Phoenix's straightforwardness left Lori momentarily speechless. The entire crew was watching them, and some were even secretly recording with their phones.
Lori wasn't a minor celebrity, but she didn't have as many fans as Phoenix. She couldn't imagine the backlash if news of their conflict spread.
Holding back tears, Lori said, "I didn't do it. It wasn't me. You can investigate if you don't believe me. It has nothing to do with me."
"It better not."
Lori left, feeling humiliated. She had hoped to gain some attention from Phoenix, but ended up being scolded harshly. She knew Phoenix was different from her; he was in the entertainment industry for fun, backed by the powerful Sawyer family, capable of manipulating capital and even blacklisting her.
She wouldn't dare provoke him again.
Once Lori left, Phoenix took out his phone and made a call.
"Look into Lori. I want all the details as soon as you find anything."
Lori's words had reminded Phoenix. He had initially suspected Lori of posting that message and stirring up trouble online. Being in the entertainment industry, she knew how to create buzz.
But he needed concrete evidence. If confirmed, he wouldn't tolerate anyone harming Aurelia.
Using his fans to hurt the person he cared about most crossed the line.
After the call, the rest of the shoot went smoothly, finishing in one take. The crew wrapped up for the day.
Phoenix got into his car, and his phone rang.
"Mr. Sawyer, we've found something. The address is in Silver Ridge District, pointing to a hospital."
Phoenix frowned.
"Did Lori visit the hospital recently?"
"We checked. She hasn't."
Phoenix scratched his brow, his gut telling him Lori was behind this. The photos of him and Aurelia talking at home were clearly taken by someone familiar.
No media had been allowed at his grandmother's birthday party. The guests were close friends and business associates. He had checked the guest list, and Lori was the most likely suspect.
Lori would benefit the most from tarnishing Aurelia's reputation.
She had long seen Aurelia as a rival, fabricating stories to disgust Nathaniel and create a rift between them.
"Check her accounts for any recent large transactions."
The person on the other end hurried to comply.
Meanwhile, Aurelia was too scared to leave her apartment. Lunch was delivered from The Velvet Palate, and her assistant handled any other errands.
After work, Joe knocked on Aurelia's door.
Seeing Joe, Aurelia's expression faltered. She felt awkward remembering the lies she had told and the late-night call Joe had reported to Jacob.
"Joe, what brings you here today? Aren't you busy?"
Aurelia tried to make conversation.
Joe loosened his tie and sat on the couch.
"I was worried if I came any later, you'd be gone."
Aurelia felt a pang of guilt.
"Joe, Jacob and Dorothy wanted to see their dad yesterday, so I took them to Nathaniel's. After dinner, they didn't want to leave..."
Joe raised an eyebrow, as if to say, "Don't blame the kids. If you didn't want to go, no one could force you."
"The kids want to see their dad. I may not like him, but I shouldn't stop Dorothy and Jacob from having a father. But what's your excuse?"
"Joe, Nathaniel isn't what you think. I hope you can get to know him better. We've had many misunderstandings..."
Joe didn't want to hear anything positive about Nathaniel. He had been in business long enough to judge people accurately.
Nathaniel had business acumen and some emotional intelligence, but he used it all for his work. When it came to family, especially women, he was clueless.
With Nathaniel around, Aurelia wouldn't lack for eligible young men.
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